Lift magazine for heel-building machines



Oct. 1,645,531

1927" I... A. HOLMAN I LIFT MAGAZINE FOR HEEL BUILDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. A. HOLMAN LIFT MAGAZINE FOR HEEL BUILDING MACHINES Oct. 18, 1927,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.l2. 1926 LLJ Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITE TES LIFT MAGAZINE FOR HEEL-BUILDING MACHINES.

Application filed January 12, 1926. Serial No. 80,801.

This invention relates to a magazine for mitting the withdrawal from said magazine use in heel building machines for holding a supply of heel lifts and for delivering them one at a-time as required in the operation of the machine and although designed primarily for use in the heel building machine shown and described in an application filed by me August 29, 1921, Serial No. 496,201,

I it is susceptible of use in various other types of heel building and similar machines.

In the use of heel building machines, it has, heretofore, been impracticable to use heel lifts which were wedge-shaped, curved or warped because of the difficulty of feeding such lifts one at a time from the supply holding magazines. Such magazines as a rule have been of the bottom delivery character from which the lifts are required to be fed one at a timebut with curved or irregularly shaped lifts this result could not be attained with any appreciable amount of success. It is very desirable, however, to use lifts of this character because they are extremely cheap since they can be cut out of waste stock. Heretofore, it has been common to use curved or warped lifts in building up heel logs; that is, a log formed by glueing together a vast quantity of lifts of all shapes. After being pressed and dried the log is then cut in sections to form heels. Log building, however, requires hand work and is, therefore, slow and expensive.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a lift magazine for heel building machines which is adapted ,for handlingirregularly shaped heel lifts either wedge-shaped or curved and for delivering such lifts one at a time.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of a magazine which may be easily and expeditiously adjusted to lifts of various thicknesses and dimensions.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the lift may be delivered by the magazine properly centered to insure againstthe twisting and turning of the lift during delivery.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

In its preferredform, my invention contemplates a magazine comprising a trough like structure for holding a column of heel lifts, being adjustable to suit lifts ofidiffei or said structure provided with means pea ent widths, and a frame at the delivery end of but one lift at a time. The magazine is mounted either in a vertical or an inclinded position so that the lifts are moved clownwardly by gravity and delivered from its lower end, the delivery being controlled by.

a gate adjusted to permit of the withdrawal through said frame in an edgewise direction of the'lowermost lift only. The frame or gate may also be provided with suitable means for centering the lift as it is withdrawn from the magazine to insure correct positioning of the lift in the withdrawing mechanism.

In the drawings illustrating one form of the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the delivery end of a magazine constructed and adapted to operate in accordance with my invention, the delivery end of said maga-' zine being shown as loaded with heel lifts and in conjunction with a portion of a rotary transferring member of the character disclosed in my prior application hereinbefore referred to; Fig. 2 is a front-elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional View of the same with but two lifts shown one about to be withdrawn through the gate; Fig. 4 is a rear plan view looking upwardly of a pair of magazines showing the means for holding the same and for adjusting the magazines simultaneously to accommodate lifts of various widths: Fig. 5 is anelevation of the top or rear end of a magazine and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the rear end shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of magazine comprises a pair of parallel cooperating strips 10 forming a trough like structure for holding a column of heel lifts, a frame 12 enclosing the lower ends of said strips and through which the lifts pass out of the magazine and'a gate 14 for controlling the withdrawal of lifts from the magazine one at a time.

The strips 10 making up the trough like structure or main bodyiportion of the magazine may be'of any suitable number" and form for holding a column of lifts but as shown two strips are employed, each being right angled in cross-section for engaging the front corners of the breast of the lifts. The strips may be supported in a position 's'ufiifiiently inclined to the horizontal to su the lifts feeding downwardly hi grav:

lifts are withdrawn tiareugli tom of the magazine and I have found that an inclination of approximately thirty degrees to a horizontal plane will be sufficient to accomplish this result. Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the body portion of the magazine such as an angle iron crossbar .16 and T-side bars 18, the strips being connected together and to the crossbar at their upper ends in the following manner. To the bottom of each strip 10nea'r its upper end is fastened by screws a block 21 and a bolt 22 threaded through said blocks connects together the two strips. A clamp 24 is loosely mounted F on a bolt 25 projecting upwardly through one leaf of the cross-bar 16 and is held thereon by a thumbnut 26. The clamp is sufficiently wide to overlap the blocks 21 and to grip them tightly when the thumbnut 26 is tightened.

At their lower ends the strips 10 are bent I downwardly into the frame 12 and are sup the longitudinal movement of ported therein by lateral wings 30 which rest on the tops 32 of the side portions of the frame. The wings may be made in any manner but as shown each is a laterally bent corner of a plate 34: fastened by screws 35 to the outer side surface of a strip 10. The upper edge or top 32 of each side of the frame may be provided with an upright portion orlug 36 in position to.be engaged by a wing 30 to serve as an abutment therefor to hold the strip 10 in proper posit-ion.

For adjusting the width of the body )0!- tion of the magazine to suit lifts of di erent widths, the cross-bar 16 may be adjustable in relation to the side bars 18 to move the strips 10 longitudinally in either direction. The cross-bar at each end is provided with a butterfly headed. screw loosely mounted'and held therein by a collar 39, and threaded through a block 40 fastened. to the adjacent side bar 18 by a screw 41. The turning of the two screws 38 moves the cross-bar toward or away from the side bars and thereby moves the strips 10 in a longitudinal direction. Between the strips 10 near their lower ends a helical spring 48 mounted on a pin 44 loosely held in brackets 45 fastened by screws 46 to the under sides of the strips 10 serves to force the strips apart at their lower ends and to hold the wings oOin engagement with the lugs 36. Cotter pins 4.7 may be inserted in the ends of the pin 44 to limit the separation of the strips.

In the making of the adjustment of the magazine, the thumb-nut 26 on the clamp 24 is loosened to permit the upper ends of the two strips 10 to be manually arranged the proper distance apart after which the nut may be tightened. The width of the lower end of the magazine is regulated by the strips 10 through the manipulation of the screws 38 and the cooperative action of the wings 30 and lugs 36. As the strips move downwardly the oblique edges of the wings slide on the lugs and force the two strips toward 5' each other and when the strips are moved upwardly the lugs permit them to separate gradually and the spring 43 holds the strips apart and the wings in engagement with the lugs. This method of adjustment is of special advantage in a machine using a large number of magazines since the magazines may be manually adjusted at their upper ends and then may all be adjusted at their lower ends simultaneously by the manipulation of the two screws 38.

The frame 12 is substantially rectangular in plan and may be secured to a suitable support or frame part 50 by any suitable means such as a screw 51 through its rear wall. To prevent the frame turning or twisting on its support, the two may be dovetailed together at 53. The frame serves merely to enclose the lower ends of the body portion of the magazine and to carry the means for controlling and positioning the lifts.

For controlling the withdrawal of lifts in an edgewise direction from the bodyportion of the magazine a gate 14 may be loosely and slid-ably mounted with the frame in engagement with the front wall 54: thereof. The top of the gate may be turned over the front wall of the frame to form a flange 56 to which may be fastened by screws 57 a depending plate 58 engaging the front face of said front wall for holding said gate in vertical position. To an upright bracket 60 countersunk at its lower end in the top of the gate and secured thereto by a screw v62 may be affixed a. depending spring tongue 64. -The upper end of the tongue may be fastened rigidly to the upper end of said bracket by any suitable means such as by a coverGG having its sides turned 2 over the sides of said. bracket to prevent twisting of the tongue and by a screw 68. The spring tongue 6 .4: is centrally located on said gate and moves with it to control the passage of lifts out under said gate, and also acts as resilient and yielding means to preventmore than one lift being withdrawn at a time. The central. lower portion of the gate is cut away to permit the tongue to yield in a forward direction and to follow the lift as it is withdrawn.

Forregulating the vertical position of the gate and therefore the relation of the spring tongue to the bottom lift any suitable means 7 may be provided for adjusting the gate vertically and oneflsueh means is shown comprising a disk eceentrically mounted on a screw 72 on the front face of the front wall of the frame and a block 74 secured by av screw 76 in position to be engaged by the l lil periphery of said disk 70. The gate 14-. and spring tongue are thus raised and lowered by merely turning the disk and to facilitate this manipulation a finger pin 78 may be set in the front face of the disk near its periphery. A spring plate 80 may be inserted between the disk and the head of the screw upon which it mounted for holding it in adjusted position. If desired, suitable numerals 82 or other graduations may be inarked'on the face of the dial to indicate the proper positions of the disk for various thicknesses of lifts.

To limit the bending of the spring tongue in a'fori'vard direction as the bottommost lift is withdrawn and to cause the lift to be held down by the tongue upon the withdrawing means, a screw 84 may be threaded into the rear face of the gate 14 in position to act as an adjustable stop. The gate may alsobe weighted if desired, to prevent its riding up too far when curved liftsare being fed out-of the magazine.

Iffdesired, in order to insure the delivery of but one lift at a time means supplementary to the spring tongue may be provided and one form of such means is shown comprising two wings 86 which may be attached.

'heel lift as it passes out under the gate in order to center the lift so that it will move forwardly without turning or twisting; One such means consists of two depending guides 88 each pivotally mounted at its upper end on a screw 89 set in the front face of the front wall of the frame 12. These guides swing freely on their, pivot screws and a helical spring 90, attached at each end to one of the guides, may be employed for holding them in a normally closed position. The lower ends of the guides may be provided with edges 92 for engagement with the lift; these edges being preferably oblique in order to center the lift as it passes out between them. Retaining bands 91 may be arranged on the frame to prevent the guides being dragged in a forward direction by the lift to disturb the centering operation.

To illustrate the application of my invention to a heel making machine, there is shown in the drawings a transferring member of the construction disclosed in my application hereinbefore referred to. arranged end thereof.

for withdrawing lifts from the magazine. The transferring member is rotatable and made up of two circular disks 93 fixed on a shaft (not shown) in parallel separated .re lation. Each disk is provided with a plurality of peripheral flattened portions 94 or heel-seats to receive and hold lifts and with an equal number of radial projecting lugs 95 arranged at the rear end of each flattened portion 9 1- for engaging the breast of the heel lift. (lo-operating with each pair of heel-seats 9a is a pair of radial-spring gripping members 96 adapted for gripping the heel lift between them, each member being fastened to a disk near the center thereof and carrying at its other end pin 97 pro jecting inwardly through a hole 98 in the disk in position to be engaged by a cam 99 suspended on a bracket 100 carried by the frame of the machine. In Fig. 2, the pins 97 are shown in engagement with thecam and the gripping members spread apart preparatory to closing on the heel lift 102.

l n the operation of my device, the magazine having been properly adjusted is filled with heel lifts 102 as shown in Figure 1 with their rear curved portions uppermost and the breasts of the heels resting upon the bottoms 'of the strips 10. Thomain column of heel lifts will thus lie at an angle of approximately thirty degrees to the horizontal but in the lower end of the magazine, the column of lifts is curved around so that the bottom lift rests horizontally on the edges of the two disks making up the transferring member. The gate should be accurately adjusted to the thickness of the lifts l02 by turning the dial disk to the proper graduation. In making this adjustment the disk is turned suflicicntly to raise the gate so thatthe lower edges of the wings are just a. trifle above the top face of the lowermost lift.

The starting of the machine causes the transferring member to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 and as it turns a pair of heel-seats passes under the magazine and the bottom lift settles down thereon but is held against forward movement by the top end of the spring tongue 64 (as shown in Fig. 3) until a pair of lugs 95 engages the breast of the lift when it is then forced forward bending the spring tongue forwardly until it clears the As the lift is carried forward under the spring tongue by the rotation of the transferring member, the tongue end bears down upon it and holds it down upon the heel-seats. This action of the spring tongue is of special advantage in the feeding of curved or warped lifts because it flattens them out upon the heel-seats and holds them in that condition until gripped by the gripping members. In passing out under the gate the curved rear end of the 11ft 1s centered by the fingers 88 and after this has been accomplished the gripping members then operate to grip the lift and hold it in place on the transferring member until it reaches its destination. The cam 99 is so located that the gripping members are held spread apart and inoperative from just before the lugs engage the breast of the lift to feed it forward until it has been. centered and has almost entirely passed the centering guides 88, the gripping members engaging the sides of the lift at apoint just forward of those guides. Since the engaging edges of the guides are oblique, these members also have a tendency to hold the lift down upon the transferring member.

It will be observed that by the use of my device the feeding of but one lift at a time is assured and that the passage of more than one lift is absolutely blocked by the spring tongue and the wings. After the withdrawal of the lowermost lift, the column of lifts settles slightly and the next lift then rides on the peripheries of the dislr members of the transferring elei'nent until another air of lugs moves forward to engage and withdraw it in the same manner.

The vertical adjustmentof the spring tongue which may be regulated to a very fine degree by means of the disk is of marked value in feeding curved or wedge-shaped lifts. The latter lifts are generally thicker at the rear ends than at the breast ends so that there might be a tendency for the next lift to follow out but any such movement of the second lift is prevented by the spring tongue which rides and presses downwardly upon the upper face of the lowermost lift so long as it is in engagement therewith.

Another advantage of my invention is the ease with which the magazine may be adj usted to varying conditions as they arise thereby making it very flexible. These adjustments may all be made by the operator from time to time to meet changes in conditions. This is especially true of the adjustment of the gate and spring tongue which may be made without interrupting the operation of the machine.

The fact that the gate is loosely mounted is of especial advantage when lifts are withdrawn from the magazine by a rotating member having flat surfaces for holding the lifts since the gate is free to drop slightly on the center of the lift to hold it flat on its seat and is free to rise again as the breast of the heel passes out. This flexibility of the gate and spring tongue results in a un.i form pressure being maintained on the heel lift while being fed forward by therotating member. In the case of wedge lifts in which the rear portions of the lifts are much thicker than the breast portions the gate may be so adjusted as to drop slightly, after the thicker portion of the lift has passed beyond it, in.

order to maintain the desired pressure by the spring tongue upon the center and breast portion of the lift.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the precise form herein shown and described since it may be embodied in various other constructions all within the purview of the following claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A magazine for heel building machines, comprising a trough made up of two co-opcrating members right-angled in cross section, means for holding said two members in an inclined position, means for adjusting the distance between said two Inembersto accommodate lifts of various widths and a gate mounted on the lower ends of said two members for delivering heellifts one at a time.

2. magazine for heel building machines, comprising two co-operating members rightangled in cross section and in parallelled separated relation to form a trough-like structure for holding a column of heel lifts, a fixed support to which the upper ends of said members are secured in an inclined position, means for adjusting the distance between said two members to accommodate lifts of various widths, a gate fixed in position to receive the lower ends of said two members and means carried by said gate for permitting the bottom lift only to be withdrawn therefrom at a time.

3. A magazine for heel building machines, comprising a trouglrlike structure for holding a column of lifts, said structure being adjustable in width to accommodate lifts of various widths and a gate mounted on the lower end of said structure, said gate comprising a rectangular frame and means carried by said frame for permitting one lift at a time being withdrawn from the bot-tom of the pile of lifts in said magazine.

4. A magazine for heel building machines, comprising a trough-like structure, means for supporting said structure in an inclined position to permit the heel lifts contained therein to move downwardly by the force of gravity, means for regulating the width of said structure to accommodate lifts of various widths and a gate mounted on the lower end of said structure for permitting one lift at a time to be withdrawn from said magazine from the bottom of the pile of lifts therein.

5. A magazine for heel building machines having, in combination, means for holding a column of lifts, a frame at the bottom of said holding means, and a gate loosely mounted in said frame for movement and adjustment in a plane approximately vertical for ermitting the bottom lift only in said column to be withdrawn through said gate.

6. A magazine for heel building machines having, in combination, means for, holdin a column of lifts, a frame at the batters o.

- bottom of the column of lifts in said holding which lifts are delivered one at a time from said' holding means and a gate loosely mounted onsaid frame for movement and adjustment in a: plane approximately vertical for insuringthe delivery of but one lift at a time.

8. A magazine for heel building machines having, in combination, means for holding a column of lifts, a frame'mounted on the lower end" of said holding means through which lifts may be withdrawn from the means and a' gate loosely mounted on said frame for movement and adjustment in' a plane approximately vertical for controlling the passage of lifts through said frame and for insuring the delivery of but one lift at a time. I j v i 9. A magazine for heelbuilding machines having, in combination, means for holding a column of lifts in position'to be moved downwardly by gravity, a frame mounted on the lower end of said holding means through which liftsare' withdrawn from said holding means, and a gate loosely mounted on said frame for insuring the withdrawal of but one lift at a time fromsaid frame; said gate being movable andadjustable in a planeapproximately vertical to suit lifts of different thicknesses. I

1O. A magazine forheel building machines having, in combination, elongated troughlike means for holding a column of lifts in an obliqueposition sufficiently inclined to a horizontal plane to be moved downwardly by gravity and means on the lower end of said holding means for permitting the withdrawal of the bottom lift and no more at a time from said holding means; said means being adjustable to suit lifts of various thicknesses.

11. A magazine for heel building machines having, in combination, elongated troughlike means'for holding a column of lifts in an oblique position suflieiently inclined to a horizontal plane'to be moved downwardly by gravity, said means at its lower end being curved downwardly for bottom delivery in a horizontal plane, and means on the bottom end of said holding means for permitting but one lift at a time to be withdrawn from the bottom of said column of'lifts; said means being adjustable vertically to conform to lifts of various thicknesses.

12. A magazine for heel building machines A magazine for heel buildingmachines having, in combination, means for holding a column of lifts, a frame enclosing and supporting the bottom end of said holding means and a gate loosely mounted in said frame and carrying a depending laterally resilient spring tongue for controlling the withdrawal of the lifts one at a time from said holding means.

g 13. A magazine for heel building machines having," in combination, means for holding a column of lifts, a frame enclosing and supporting the bottom of said holding means a gate loosely mounted in said frame and vertically movable, laterally resilient lift engaglngmeanscarried by said gate for holding down each lift as it is withdrawn through saidframe and means for adjusting the vertical-position of said gate in said frame j 14. A magazine for heel building machine having, in combination, means forholding a column of lifts, a frame enclosing and suporting the bottom of said holding means, agate loosely mounted in said: frame for controlling the withdrawal of lifts from said holding means in an edgewise manner through said frame, said gate being provided'with a depending laterally resilient lift engaging member, and vrotatable means for adjusting the vertical position of said gate to suit lifts of various thicknesses.

15. A magazine for heel building machines having, in combination, inclined means for-holding a column of lifts, a frame enclosing and supporting the bottom of said holding means through which said lifts are delivered in an edgewise manner, a gate loosely mounted on said frame and provided with a depending laterallyfiresilient lift en gaging member and a disk eccentrically mounted on said gate and adapted to abut a fixed portion of said frame and to be rotated for adjusting the vertical position of said gate to suit lifts of various thicknesses.

,16. A magazine for heel building machines having, in combination, means for holding a column of lifts in position to be moved downwardly by gravity, a frame enclosing the lower end of said holding means, through which lifts are withdrawn from said holding means in an edgewise direction, a gate loosely mounted on said frame and provided with a depending laterally resilient lift engaging member for insuring the withdrawal of but one lift at a time and means carried by said gate adapted to engage'a fixed portion of said frame for regulating the vertical position of said gate in said frame to suit lifts of various thick nesses.

17. A magazine for heel building machines having, in combination, a body-portion for holding a column of lifts in position to be fed downwardly by gravity, a frame enclosing the lower end of said body- .chines having in combination means for holding a column of lifts suiiiciently inclined to permit the lifts to feed downwardly by gravity, a frame enclosing the bottom of said holding means, a gate loosely mounted on said frame, a depending spring tongue fixed centrally on said gate for engaging and holding down the lowermost lift as it is withdrawn; said gate being cut away centrally to permit said tongue to yield laterally in a forward direction as the lift is withdrawn. v

19. A magazine for heel building machines having in combination means for holding a column of lifts inclined suiiiciently to permit the lifts to feed downward by gravity, a frame enclosing the bottom of said holding means, said holding means being movable longitudinally in relation to said frame and being rovided with wings having oblique edges c apted to engage said frame for regulating the width of said holdmg means by the longitudinal movement thereof in relation to said frame and a gate mounted on sald frame for permitting the bottom lift only to be withdrawn therefrom at a time. i i

20. A magazine for heel building machines having in combination means for holding a column of lifts sufficiently inclined to a horizontal plane to permit the lifts to feed downwardly by gravity, a frame enclosing the bottom of said holding means, a gate i'o'os'el'v mounted on said frame, a disk eccentrioally mounted on saidgate for engaging a fixed portion of said frame, said gate being adapted to be rotated for 'adjusting the lowermost portion of said gate to suit hits of various thicknesses, a depending laterally resilient spring tongue lfiised on said gate for engaging and holding the low erinost ift as it is withdrawn through said gate and an adjustable stop for limiting the extent of the lateral yield of said spring tongue in a forward direction.

"21. magazine for heel "building ma chines having, in combination, a fixed frame, a pair of cooperatingstrips in separated parallel relation for holding a column of heel lifts in position to feed downwardy by grav ity and having their lower ends enclosed in said frame, each of said strips being provided with a laterally extending Wing having an oblique edge in engagement with said frame whereby the longitudinal movement of said strips regulates the distance there between, a spring for holding said strips apart and means for supporting "the upper ends of said strips in adjusted separated relation. In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this thirtieti kday of December, 1925. 'L' SLI'E A. HOLMAN. 

